Study Buddy (Challenger): How Irish dancing provides a great workout for body and brain and can strengthen family bonds

[2] The dancers are doing an Irish jig and, for some, the music and moves trigger memories of Riverdance. The hugely popular dance show started in 1995 in Ireland’s capital, Dublin. Since then, more than 25 million people have watched its performance on more than 450 stages worldwide.

[3] The class is run by Echoes of Erin, an Irish dance school started by Catriona Newcombe, who hails from the small town of Ballycastle in Northern Ireland. She first did a degree in dance at Derby University in the United Kingdom that incorporated dance, healing and learning, dance therapy, music therapy, and drama therapy.

[4] At the studio is Danielle Parker, one of the school’s instructors who in 2016 won the Irish dancing European Championships and the World Championships held in the English seaside city of Brighton. She started dancing aged five in her native Australia. “I went to an Irish dance performance and really fell in love with the dresses,” she said. “My mum told me if I wanted to wear those dresses then I’d have to do the dance.” Parker is dropping off her daughter, Holly, 10, who is following in her mother’s energetic footsteps. “I have classes three times a week,” said Holly, who started dancing when she was just three. “I’ve enjoyed it my whole life.” Parker loves how Irish dancing has strengthened their mother-daughter bond.

[5] And while traditional Irish dance is a rite of passage for many in Ireland, the dance has other benefits. It is also a great workout for the body – and brain. It is a fast-paced cardiovascular exercise that can improve flexibility, range of motion, physical strength and stamina. “We’re constantly jumping and kicking and leaping so it does take a lot of cardiovascular effort,” Parker said. It also strengthens the core, the area between the pelvic floor and diaphragm that helps to hold and protect the spine. “While dancing it’s important to keep your upper body as straight and rigid as possible, and to keep your arms straight by your side,” she said. “It’s harder than it looks but is a great workout for the core.”

[6] It also keeps you mentally active. “You’re constantly moving, and your steps and performances are always changing, so your brain is working all the time,” Parker said. In 2016, a study involving more than 70 adults aged 55 years or older with Parkinson’s disease – a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system – compared balance, physical fitness and quality of life in healthy older Irish set dancers and age-matched non-set dancers. Irish set dance is a form of folk dance performed in groups of four or eight. The results showed that regular set dancers had better balance, endurance and quality of life than non-set dancers.

[7] “I think the only downside is it can be a bit noisy for the neighbours if you’re practising on a wooden floor in a flat in Hong Kong,” laughed Danielle. She has also avoided injury. “I’ve been very lucky.” A proper warm-up, which increases the heart rate and blood flow to the muscles and activates the nervous system while getting the blood flowing, is crucial. “Generally shins and ankles are vulnerable, but when I’m dancing or teaching I do exercises and warm-ups that stretch these areas and focus on building the muscles around them.”
Source: South China Morning Post, September 28

1. Paragraph 1 describes ...
A. a typical Friday evening for most Hongkongers.
B. a popular dance show.
C. a dance class being conducted.
D. a trailer from a film.

2. In paragraph 2, what do the “music and moves” refer to?

3. According to paragraph 4, how have Parker and Holly benefited from dancing in their personal life?

4. Find a word or phrase in paragraph 5 that refers to “an official ceremony or informal activity that marks an important stage or occasion in a person’s life, especially becoming an adult”.

5. Complete the following paragraph based on the information in paragraphs 5 and 6 about the benefits of Irish dance by writing ONE phrase in each blank below. Your answers must be grammatically correct. (4 marks)
Irish dance counts as a form of (i) __________ that is high in intensity. It helps to improve one’s range of motion, stamina, flexibility and (ii) __________. Apart from physical fitness, it may improve one’s quality of life because it keeps people (iii) __________ especially seniors who suffer from degenerative disorders of the central nervous system such as (iv) __________.

6. In paragraph 6, Irish set dance ...
A. can only be performed by a specific age group.
B. benefits dancers more when performed in groups of eight.
C. helps dancers to improve their social skills.
D. none of the above

7. According to paragraph 7, what would Danielle Parker suggest doing to prevent injuries during Irish dance practice?

8. Match the main points (A to E) with one of the corresponding paragraphs on the left. Write the correct letter on the line next to the paragraph number. ONE main point is not used. (4 marks)

9. Which group of people might this article appeal to?
A. individuals who are looking to pursue a career in dance
B. class studios that are actively recruiting students
C. producers of Broadway musicals featuring Irish dance 
D. none of the above

1. C
2. dancing the Irish jig (accept other similar answers)
3. It has strengthened their mother-daughter bond.
4. rite of passage
5. (i) cardiovascular exercise; (ii) physical strength; (iii) mentally active; (iv) Parkinson’s disease
6. D
7. a proper warm-up
8. (i) D; (ii) A; (iii) C; (iv) E
9. D